Boat light cover



Jan. 27, 1970 M. A. BAREIS son LIGHT "COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31. 1968 /N VISA/Toe Marvin A .501613' azz JanQ27, 1970 M; A. BAREIS BOAT LIGHT COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1968 United States Patent 3,491,388 BOAT LIGHT COVER Marvin A. Bareis, New Haven, Mo., assignor to Kellwood Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 772,220 Int. Cl. B63b 35/00 U.S. C]. 9-1 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flexible weather-impervious cover for a small nautical craft suitable for transport on an auto trailer, said cover incorporating special means for inclosing an upstanding light fixture mounted on the deck of the craft while also adapted to expose the light if desired. Said inclosing means consist of a conical cap of material similar to the cover adhesively secured over an opening through which the light fixture extends. The cap is slitted down from the apex thereof to permit exposure of the light, a weatherproof closure such as a slide fastener being provided for the slit.

My invention relates in general to weather-protective boat covers useful in storage and transportation of transportable boats such as small power boats which may be mounted for transportation on an automobile trailer, although not necessarily restricted thereto.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is a common practice to cover small boats of this character with a tarpaulin or like flexible and removable cover. However, a problem often arises in connection with the running lights and their fixtures which usually protrude upwardly from the deck and which interfere with the usual cover. To accommodate such projecting fixtures, the cover must either be excessive in size, involving waste of material, or holes must be cut therein to permit the fixtures to pass therethrough. Such expendients are unsatisfactory.

OUTLINEOF INVENTION A particular object of my invention, therefore, is to provide for the incorporation in a boat cover of the type referred to of means for housing the usual running lights, making possible either the complete covering of the light or, if desired, permitting the light to be exposed while the boat and its supporting trailer are in movement.

Another object is to provide a simple and expedient method of production of such a boat cover.

Still another object is to provide a product and method which will be relatively inexpensive, permitting universal adoption by boat owners.

Various other objects and advantages may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first stage of a preferred method of practicing my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts employed in the fabrication of my improved light cover in a boat cover, a portion of'the latter being shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one stage of the operation of fabricating a light cover in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a subsequent operation in said fabrication process;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts in process of assembly at a stage of the fabrication subsequent to' that of FIG. 4 but prior to completion;

3,491,388 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Starting with a boat cover of the usual or any suitable type formed of flexible material such as tarpaulin, weatherproof canvas or the like, as shown fragmentarily in the drawings and indicated by reference numeral C, said cover is stretched over the boat and the positions of the lights are marked thereon by means of a suitable marking implement such as a pencil, crayon, etc. The cover is then laid flat on the ground and, applying a suitable ring or hoop 10 to the top surface of the cover with the mark indicating a light position as a center, a circle is drawn around the inner periphery of the ring, as indicated in FIG. 1.

The fabric is then cut along the circular mark drawn around the ring, to form a circular aperture A.

Ring 10 is then arranged immediately below aperture A and concentrically therewith, and the fabric of cover C is drawn down over the ring as seen in FIG. 3, so that the marginal portion of aperture A will snugly contact the outer face of ring 10.

A suitable adhesive is then applied, as seen in FIG. 3, to the exposed outer marginal surface of fabric C, to form a circle of adhesive. Obviously, any suitable adhesive may be employed, such as a liquid form of rubber or latex, acrylic cement, or any suitable cement which will dry quickly and form a permanent, waterproof bond.

While the adhesive is still in a tack or semi-tacky condition, a conical cap of suitable form and construction is prepared to be secured over the aperture. I have shown in the drawings a type or construction of conical cap which I consider suitable for the purpose, said cap being indicated by numeral 15. In this form, cap 15 consists of a sheet of flexible fabric, which may be identical or similar to that of cover C and cut in such form that, when arranged as seen in the drawings, it may be disposed in conical form with a slit extending from the vertex thereof to the base, the edges of said slit and base preferably being reinforced by means of a U-shaped binding or tape T.

In the next step of the operation, cement is applied around the inner face of tape T extending around the base periphery of cap 15, as seen in FIG. 4, to form a circular line of adhesive 22.

Cap 15 is then brought down over aperture A, so that the circular line of adhesive 22 on the base of the cap will snugly engage the circle of adhesive 18 on cover C, taking the position seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

At this point, a second ring or hoop 12, which may and preferably is somewhat expansible, as by means of spring 24, is brought down over the base of cap 15 so as snugly to encircle said base portion concentrically with ring 10 on the inside thereof.

Thus, ring 12 closely grips the fabric at the base of the cap, squeezing together the two circular surfaces 18 and 22 sandwiched between the two hoops, as seen in FIG. 6, and the rings are allowed to remain in this position until the adhesive has thoroughly dried, whereupon rings or hoops 10 and 12 are removed.

It will be understood that the circumference of the taped edge at the base of cap 15 is only slightly larger than the circumference of aperture A covered by adhesive 18, so that the cap must be somewhat stretched in order to be brought in close contact therewith. Thus, the cap will form a tight, waterproof connection and will constitute an effective Weather seal over aperture A.

After removal of rings 10 and 1,2 the operation is complete, conical cover 15 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 being then attached as an integral part of cover C.

It will be apparent from FIG. 7 that cap 15 will be of sufiicient height that, when completely closed, as seen dotted in FIG. 7, the running light L wili be covered and protected against the weather. On the other hand, should it be desired to expose the light as a road signal in transporting the boat, cap 15 may be partially opened, as seen in full lines in FIG. 7.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may saggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary.

I claim:

1. A boat cover, comprising (a) a flexible, weather-impervious sheet of size and 20 shape to cover a water craft and having an aperture therein permitting passage of a light fixture mounted on the deck of said craft, and

(b) a conical member of a size completely to inclose a light fixture and light supported on the deck of said craft, said member being disposed over said aperture and so secured to the peripheral margin thereof as substantially to inhibit passage of moisture around said margin,

(0) said member having a slit in the upper portion thereof to expose said light when desired,

(6;) and means for closing said slit so as substantially to inhibit passage of moisture therethrough.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein (a) the conical member is adhesively secured to said margin, and

(b) the closure for said slit is a slide fastener.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,001,212 9/1961 Towne 9 1 3,192,542 7/1965 Mills 91 TRYGVE M. BLTX, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 1356- 

